SURPRISE, Ariz. – Missouri S&T senior Carl Miltun (Gilbert, AZ/Williams Field) opened play Friday in the Thunderbolt Invitational by shooting a two-under-par 70 to land in a tie for 17^th place after the first round of play.

Miltun recorded six birdies during the first round, but also had two bogeys and a double bogey during the day.  He had five of his birdies in a span of eight holes, including a two on the par-three 13^th hole.

Cooper Jones from Brigham Young University shot a six-under 66 in the first round to lead the 72-player field.  Only one player among the top 16 – Max Reynolds from Lincoln Memorial – came from a school outside of NCAA Division I and one other player, Colorado Christian's Xavier Bighaus, also shot a 70 in the first round.  Reynolds shot a 69 on Friday.

The Thunderbolt field consists of players that are currently enrolled at a college or university that is ranked between 200 and 400 in the World Amateur Golf rankings, earned second-, third- or honorable mention All-America honors from PING or were American Junior Golf Association second-team or honorable mention All-America selections.  The event is a 54-hole stroke play tournament that will conclude on Sunday.